Save integrity of Reiser House

April 1, 2026

On March 12, Hollidaysburg Borough Council temporarily tabled a proposal by the mayor to convert the Reiser House canal-era museum into a Slinky exhibit. I share the concerns expressed by the many constituents who protested his proposition. As an academic historian, I support new museums and do not object to a Slinky tribute. However, I adamantly oppose replacing canal displays. If the James family — the originators of the toy — or Just Play Products wish to create such an attraction, they are financially well suited to repurpose a vacant downtown building to achieve that aim. ...

State falls short for residents, facilities

March 31, 2026

Moving a parent, grandparent, or loved one into a long-term care facility is one of the most difficult decisions a loved one can make. It’s often fraught with emotion, worry and uncertainty. But it should never be “icky,” as described in an Associated Press article. After all, every aging adult deserves to spend their golden years being treated with the respect they deserve. And every long-term care facility should aim to deliver just that. But that doesn’t mean we don’t face challenges in delivering that level of quality care. You know what’s really “icky?” ...

Planting trees can help keep us safe

March 30, 2026

Altoona has always had hot summers, but with the last two summers, those temperatures have only gotten worse and more dangerous. The forest fires smoke in Canada has blazed to central PA, which causes air quality to decline. That creates risks for many people in our community, especially children and elderly. Children breathe faster than adults, which means they inhale more polluted air. Temperatures combined with poor air quality trigger asthma attacks and other breathing issues. According to the Pennsylvania Climate Impacts Assessment, “projected increases in asthma-related ...

We can’t be held hostage by oil

March 27, 2026

Among the many lessons learned from the Iran war, the most significant should be our need for energy independence. Oil is a powerful weapon. Any country able to disrupt its supply and delivery is at a strategic advantage against even the most powerful foe. Imagine a scenario where Iran sees defeat imminent and says it will destroy its oil facilities, eliminating the planet’s third-largest reserves. The mere threat would bring the world to its knees. We can no longer afford to be held hostage by oil. Most recently, presidents Biden and Obama started us down paths to energy ...

Senators should vote no on SAVE Act

March 26, 2026

I’m upset. I was born in Bedford and I’ve been voting since I was 18. The SAVE Act, if passed, is questioning my right to vote. Women in particular are going to have a problem. My birth certificate, which is in my maiden name, doesn’t match my REAL ID driver’s license. This bill requires everyone to reregister to vote in person (this means at the courthouse) and your driver’s license, REAL ID ($30), military ID aren’t going to be good enough. This pretty much eliminates me being able to register to vote by mail or online. Do you know where your birth certificate ($20) ...

US better without gov’t dependency

March 23, 2026

The modern Democratic Party often speaks passionately about compassion, fairness and helping working people. Yet many of the policies they promote seem to produce the opposite results for communities like ours here in central Pennsylvania. Policies such as rent control, heavy regulation and ever-increasing taxes are often sold as solutions to help struggling families. In practice, they tend to reduce housing availability, drive up costs for small businesses, and make it harder for working people to get ahead. Government programs intended to help too often create dependency rather than ...